The Lehigh Valley's love affair with craft breweries and wineries can be summed up in one word: intoxicating.

Just this year, Funk Brewing in Emmaus and Weathered Vineyards in Weisenberg Township joined other area alcohol hubs such as Fegley's Brew Works in Allentown and Bethlehem, Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery in Breinigsville and Weyerbacher Brewing Co. in Easton.

Additionally, there was an expansion of HiJinx Brewing Co. at Allentown's Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, which also welcomed the city's first meadery, The Colony Meadery, in January.

Now, residents thirsty for locally produced hard liquor will be able to enjoy just that at two craft distilleries: Social Still, set to open by the end of this month at 530 E. Third St. in south Bethlehem; and County Seat Spirits, set to open in January at 905 Harrison St. in Allentown (Bridgeworks Enterprise Center).

Social Still, which will start out producing vodka and gin, was forged by the family behind Franklin Hill Vineyards in Lower Mount Bethel Township. It is housed in the former Gozstonyi Savings and Trust Bank, a neo-Classical revival structure built in 1922.

The Social Still, a new distillery pitched for the CRIZ in South Bethlehem at the site of the former Gozstonyi Saving and Trust Bank. (CHRIS SHIPLEY / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL)

"Wineries and microbreweries are still going strong, but I think distilleries are the next big trend," said Adam Flatt, who operates the business with his mother, Eileen Pivinski. "I think people are looking for a vibrant place where they can socialize, share some tapas and enjoy handcrafted cocktails."

According to Flatt, patrons will be able to enjoy spirits straight up or in "unique, Prohibition-era cocktails" — some containing herbs and as many as 10 ingredients — at a 15-seat concrete bar. There also will be seating for about 40 more at neighboring tables.

"I come from a generation that ordered rum and cokes and vodka tonics, nothing fancy," he explained. "Here, there will be several throwbacks with a twist, including a drink made with grapefruit and tarragon and a gin fizz that uses egg whites."

Flatt, along with a team of contractors, began work on the 3,600-square-foot space in the summer. Many of the bank's original details remain, including terrazzo flooring, crown molding and a vault, which has been converted into dining space for parties of up to eight.

Two mezzanines, featuring televisions and restored oak flooring, each offer private party space for 50 people.

A modern touch is LED lighting, inspired by the illuminated blast furnaces at the nearby SteelStacks campus that shines vibrantly over the distillery's metal equipment.

"We can showcase a variety of colors — red and green around Christmas, red, white and blue for the Fourth of July and so on," Flatt said.

The first floor houses a retail shop, where customers will be able to buy bottles of Franklin Hill wine to go or to enjoy on the premises. Other merchandise will include flasks, shot glasses, stemware and bottles of spirits, which will include rum, bourbon, whiskey and agave spirits down the road.

A small-plates menu will offer flatbreads such as brie short rib and prosciutto ham, paninis, a hummus platter and meat and cheese board, among others.

The business is the first project to take advantage of Pennsylvania's City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) program, which allows for use of certain state and local taxes to defray costs of eligible construction projects in designated areas.

Other proposed projects hinging on the CRIZ designation in Bethlehem include another distillery, Blackplate Distilling Co., at 315 Columbia St.; Greenway Commons, a three-building complex of apartments, offices and storefronts on Third Street between Fillmore and Pierce streets; a Mexican microbrewery, Cerveza, and a fine-dining Mexican restaurant, Agave, at 404 E. Third St.

Social Still's hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Info: 610-625-4585 or socialstill.com.

County Seat Spirits, which is already producing spirits and offering informal tours, plans to open its tasting room next month. The business also will sell bottles and drinks by the glass.

"We are a true grain to glass distillery," said Anthony Brichta, who co-owns the business with John Rowe.

"We grind the grains, mash them with water, ferment them and then distill all of our products on-site. For our aged products, we will store barrels on-site in the short term."

Offerings pay tribute to the Lehigh Valley with the first two products being Sand Island rum, named after Bethlehem's Sand Island, and Class 8 vodka, a nod to Allentown's history with Mack Trucks and the Class 8 vehicles the company produces.

A Lockkeeper gin, honoring Easton, is set for release in the spring while a Hidden Copper bourbon, paying tribute to Allentown's role in hiding the copper Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War, won't be available until next fall due to the time it takes to age. Info: 610-737-1806 or countyseatspirits.com.

As my colleague Scott Kraus reported this week, two businesses have announced plans to open in Allentown's arena zone next year.

First, Shula's Steak House will move this summer from its current location at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley to an 8,600-square-foot location on the first floor Strata Flats, the luxury apartments being built at Seventh and Linden streets by City Center Investment Corp.

"I have two mechanisms of thought, one is my brain and the other is my heart," said Shula's local owner Kostas Kalogeropoulos, who recalled brainstorming ideas to revive the city's floundering downtown in the early 2000s. "My brain has let me down many, many, many more times than my heart. My heart has led me to come here and participate in something we were trying to accomplish many years ago."

Shula's, named for Hall-of-Fame Miami Dolphins football coach Don Shula, plans to close its Center Valley location in May and move all 65 employees to the new Allentown eatery, which will feature outdoor dining and an upscale bar and dining room serving lunch and dinner. Its current dinner menu offers steaks that start at $41 for a New York strip, as well as several premium seafood options.

Shula's has 14 high-end steakhouses throughout the country as well as 20 other eateries at various price points, including Shula's 347 Grill, Shula Burger and Shula's 2. Info: shulacentervalley.com.

Second, City Center Investment Corp. has signed its first retail tenant, business services and printing company Minuteman Press, which will occupy 20,000 square feet of space in its 11-story Two City Center office tower at Seventh and Hamilton streets.

The store, scheduled to open early next year, will be the business' sixth Lehigh Valley location. Info: minutemanpress.com.

Two weeks ago, I reported on the closure of the long-standing 7-Eleven at the south end of the Westgate Mall in Bethlehem. Now, I bring you news of another departure at the Schoenersville Road shopping locale.

Computer Legacy Repair recently relocated from its mall spot of about five years to 1022 Main St. in Bethlehem, near William Penn Elementary School.

According to co-owner Matt Rotundo, he and his business partner, Joe Kray, moved for personal reasons and when the shop reopens at its new location in a couple of weeks, it will be called Electronics on Main & Legacy Computer Repair.

The Westgate Mall's retreat of retailers has led several readers to inquire about its future. A few specifically asked whether the mall's owner has plans to demolish its south end, which also this year bid farewell to the 49-year-old Beef House bar.

According to the mall's office manager, Kaylee Werner, there are no demolition plans and management is in negotiations to fill the spot left vacant by 7-Eleven, although she would not say with whom.

Some good news for the mall is the relocation of Westgate Pizza from its location of 42 years near Rite-Aid, to a larger space in the center of the mall next to GNC.

The move doubled the BYOB eatery's seating capacity from 40 to more than 80, said Dominic Coppola, who co-owns the business with his wife, Assunta. It also brought an expanded menu of pizza, sandwiches and dinners. Info: 610-865-1393.

I'll finish with two restaurants that have recently closed.

First, Ginny's Bistro & Wine Bar closed last month at 612 Northampton St. in Easton due to financial reasons, Director of Operations Thomas Campbell said. The restaurant opened in the spring.

"We thank each of our loyal customers for standing by us and supporting us for the last three years," read a post on the business' Facebook page.

The company has more than 200 locations nationwide, including a franchise that opened last year in Palmer Township's 25th Street Shopping Center.

Retail Watch keeps track of new store, restaurant and bank development in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question about a retail construction project, store opening or chain you'd like to see come to the area? Contact reporter Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com. Retail Watch appears every Sunday.